Winemaker Notes
The 2019 H Sauvignon Blanc has aromas of nettle, lime zest and papaya. The palate is medium-bodied with flavors of preserved lemon, nectarine and cantaloupe melon, complexed by subtle French oak nuances. The wine finishes fresh with a balanced texture and acidity.
Professional Ratings
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Vinous
Glistening straw-yellow. Bright and sharply focused on the nose, displaying spice-tinged citrus and orchard fruit aromas and a building suggestion of succulent herbs. Silky and penetrating in the mouth, offering zesty orange pith and yellow apple flavors and a hint of tarragon. Echoes the orange note on the clinging finish, which shows very good clarity and a late suggestion of smokiness. Raised in French oak barrels of varying size, 20% of them new.
Capable of a vast array of styles, Sauvignon Blanc is a crisp, refreshing variety that equally reflects both terroir and varietal character. Though it can vary depending on where it is grown, a couple of commonalities always exist—namely, zesty acidity and intense aromatics. This variety is of French provenance. Somm Secret—Along with Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon Blanc is a proud parent of Cabernet Sauvignon. That green bell pepper aroma that all three varieties share is no coincidence—it comes from a high concentration of pyrazines (herbaceous aromatic compounds) inherent to each member of the family.
A narrow band of hills and valleys east of the city of Adelaide, the Adelaide Hills region is a diverse landscape featuring a variety of microclimates. In general it is moderate with high-altitude areas cooler and wetter compared to its warmer, lower areas.
Piccadilly Valley, the part of Adelaide Hills closest to the city, was first staked out by a grower named Brian Croser, in the 1970s for a cool spot to grow Chardonnay, then uncommon in Australia. Today a good amount of the Chardonnay goes to winemakers outside of the region.
Producers here experiment with other cool-climate loving aromatic varieties like Pinot Gris, Viognier and Riesling. Charming sparkling wine is also possible. On its north side, lower, west-facing slopes make full-bodied Shiraz.